, 1887-02-01
BLOCKADE RUNNING.
EXPERIENCE or 4 CLYDE STEAMER
on THE CAPE FEAR COAST.

Wv iiiG OFf 'ION NOEC
Trying to Pass Through the Now Inlet.
\ Gordon of Cruisers ON G~u,rd-Bcach-
in: the Vessel and setting Her gu
Fire.
Our fprty-eight-hour trip was uninter-
rupted by Union cruisers, and we reached
the Cape Fear ofIing about midnight. The
blockadiug squadron, we had learned in
Nassau. had been largely increased, and
the captain, officers and pilot were on the
qui Nive. There was no moon, but the
stafs were shining, Il contingency which
had been counted upon. All was eXpecti-
ton not unmiXed with trcpidation on
board the Corn Rigs. Even the beautiful
lad. passenger, who had not made her ap-
pcarnlce on deck since she came on board
ut Nassuu. came out on deck and peered
through the night glass CALAMITY rendered
by the captain
1t seemed as though every yard of space
wa guarded by the blockaling squadron
that night. Three times the Corn Rigs in
trying to pass through the new inlet had
to turn back when on the point of running
directly into u cruiser.
The captain, needing not the advice Of
the pilot, resolved on IL bold dash. The
cruisers had drawn nea the shore and
made n Gordon around the mouth Of the
news inlet.
Boomi A long, sullen roar from an
Armstrong gun mt the Mound battery
told the cruisers that they were too near.
Thc fiery, screaming shell passed over the
inside line Of cruisers and only missed the
Corn Rigs by a few feet.
Give her more steam, - was the cap
tain's command by mufiied bell to the en-
gineer. The runner clipped between two
cruisers unobserved, when the way was
stopped by Il third, which fired two shots
in rapid succession. Away, like n fox
pursued by "A pack Of dogs, rushed the
Clyde steamer to the north. Then turn
ing almost n complete circle, she again
pluckily essaycd an entrance.
In vain. Blue LIGHTS were burning on
half IA dozen quarter decks; u dozen rock
cts went up in air and the roar Of u dozen
guns added To the excitement of the scene
A shell struck the smokestack, tearing it
half away. The frightened lady ran on
deck and falnted in the captains arms.
Head her round the Frying Pan TO The
SOUTH shouted the captain, as he con
vcyed the lady to her stateroom. where
her colored servant lay On the fiooi.
1t was | O'Clock and there was not
much darkness to spare. In an hour
and IL half afterward the Corn Rigs es-
saved the southern inlet, the distnnce
being reduced by the pilots knowledge of
an intricate passage through the shoals.
The captain recklessly headed for the inlet
AT once. The night glasses showed that
he must pass Il cruiser, but he steered his
boat directly for it,, Outside two mole
were bearing in from the cast, and ai
vaneed behind us. Lying close 10 eliote
but nearer the forts han the Corn lif.-.
was another, quietly waiting 10 gobble a.
up. The gray dawn was breaking slowly
We were in the tolls.
Clear away the huaI-
Tint meant that the Corn Rigs was TO
be bcached, and | sprnng 10 help We
were close to shore and the firing wna ii
oa.,sant.
Bang, bang, whirr, whirrl
"D-n them said the captain bitterly,
'shry are firing grape shop at us Bat
t,ns shnu't capture this bout
Two barrels OF turpentinc slowed for
wnr,l behind the cable We're smashed in
With an aN. and the limpid liquid flooded
the dCcka. Meanwhile one boat, smashed
to piete s by grape shot, was cleared away
md two others lowered Officers and
men crowded into them Abncr, the
pilot, with blood streaming down his ince
from n splinter wound, worked the helm
rs coolly us uu n pleasure excursion
Come imp%nticntly suid the captain
Us, myself aud the mate hauled the lady
aud hrr servant into the boat. The other
boat was on lis way 10 the shore.
An right" said the pilot. jumpinu,
down.
Crack The first mate had fired his
pistol into the turpentine \ fierce and
udde blaze cnVcloped the steamer from
stem to stern. as she drove lead forcmn-t
the loss Of the rich prize almost within
their grasp, commenced firing with in.
creased rapidity
Bang bang bang
The water all around the boat was
churned almost into foam by the grape
shot A shot killed one of the men, and
took hold of his oar, viii my feet M his
bleeding corpse In u few seconds We
were on the beach, beside the burning
vessel Everybody jumped into the surf.
mud the captain and | carried the lady
ashore The servant WINS carried ashore,
also.
II 'clar boss, you Is III trouble
turned and saw II negro, seated ON one
OF the two wheeled, one mule wagons of
that region
You are II black angel from heaven,
said | to the colored mau. II wish the
Indy conveyed to some house.
Two or three boats from the cruiser
were already ut the burning vessel ",
drove hurriedly to Smithvillc, wher, .
better conveyance landed us In Whining
ion Before dark | had the pleasure ul
handing the lady over to her husband
Maj sheldon, II Georgian officer OF good